Estate Bordeaux, St. Thomas, VI (April 12 2015) Ras Amaha Kristos, the emcee of the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market and a co-host of their weekly radio program stands at the podium. He is one of the local farmers that hosts a bi-weekly Estate Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on the Western most part of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The family friendly markets exist in a lush natural environment where healthy and homegrown food, fun, music and other entertainment are enjoyed by visitors. (Photo by DaraMonifah Cooper, Fullsail University New Media Journalism Student)
Bordeaux farmers on St. Thomas host two monthly family friendly markets on the 2nd and Las’ Sundays monthly in a relaxed natural environment to share healthy and homegrown food, fun and music with families in the local community.
Estate Bordeaux, St. Thomas, VI (April 12 2015) Visitors take their time enjoying the view around the market pavilion overlooking the farms, hilly landscape and ocean view during the bi-weekly farmers market in the Bordeaux Mountains. Local farmers host a bi-weekly Estate Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on the Western most part of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The family friendly markets exist in a lush natural environment where healthy and homegrown food, fun, music and other entertainment are enjoyed by visitors. (Photo by DaraMonifah Cooper, Fullsail University New Media Journalism Student)
“Most people come only with the intention of purchasing local produce, but there’s so much more to experience than just the food, ” shared JahStarr Ras Koniyah, former secretary for the We Grow Food, Inc Bordeaux farmers organization prior to his untimely transition.
He would brag that, driving into the Western most part of the island, “the difference in the air,” is the first thing that changes as the city life is left behind replaced with the surrounding green hills and vegetation. The peaceful environment lays right in the middle of a small quiet neighborhood in the Bordeaux area also known as Fortuna.
Estate Bordeaux, St. Thomas, VI (April 12 2015) Tikete Ludvig and younger brother enjoy a creative game of ‘basketball’ alongside the market pavilion while their parents sell produce from their farm. This and other creative activities are available for youth to enjoy freely around the market every other Sunday. Local farmers host a bi-weekly Estate Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on the Western most part of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The family friendly markets exist in a lush natural environment where healthy and homegrown food, fun, music and other entertainment are enjoyed by visitors. (Photo by DaraMonifah Cooper, Fullsail University New Media Journalism Student)
Here children run freely and the one main road is only a connecting line allows locals and visitors to get into and out of the area. A large portion of the hillside is farm land and home to the island’s oldest Rastafarian community. Horses, cows and other animals can be seen in the area and on every other Sunday music heard coming from the bi-weekly Farmers’ market.
Estate Bordeaux, St. Thomas, VI (April 12 2015) Ras Amaha loosens and clears the soil in a tire garden near the compost bin area of the marketplace, preparing it for the next watering during the bi-weekly farmers market in Bordeaux, St. Thomas. Local farmers host a bi-weekly Estate Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on the Western most part of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The family friendly markets exist in a lush natural environment where healthy and homegrown food, fun, music and other entertainment are enjoyed by visitors. (Photo by DaraMonifah Cooper, Fullsail University New Media Journalism Student)
Here is where you’ll find many of those known as the caretakers of the land as from sunrise to sunset there is always a hand in the soil preparing for the next rains or reaping. Young and old assist in the work and also in the enjoyment of celebration when it’s time. Along with technology that has made it’s way into this community, you will also see random children running around the market playing games made of everyday items like basketball with cardboard water boxes or baseball with sticks and stones. Even a simple game of tag transforms groups of youth into flashes of color and happy sound as they run by.
Estate Bordeaux, St. Thomas, VI (April 12 2015) Husband and wife, Ras Kiddus and Selah, stand proudly together. Selah said she only takes photos together with her husband displaying a perfect example of the type of family unity seen in the Bordeaux Mountains during the bi-weekly farmers market. Local farmers host a bi-weekly Estate Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on the Western most part of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The family friendly markets exist in a lush natural environment where healthy and homegrown food, fun, music and other entertainment are enjoyed by visitors. (Photo by DaraMonifah Cooper, Fullsail University New Media Journalism Student)
Here is where local families are found singing, dancing before, during and after they sell or trade their produce with each other and visitors that may appear. Decades of memories and traditions color the stalls high-lit with red, yellow and green as well as African symbols, sayings and faces.
A relaxing trip to the Bordeaux Farmers’ Market on a bi-weekly basis tends to leave smiles on the faces of many and lighter souls return to their homes after sunset every other Sunday from the hills of Bordeaux, on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. “A long ride for long life,” as We Grow Food, Inc. co-host Empress Shaca, proudly shares during their weekly radio show.
